Why I Love My Bad Days | Alexi Pappas | TED

Overview

Olympian and filmmaker Alexi Pappas shares the transformative rule of thirds, a mindset tool that reframes bad days as essential parts of pursuing ambitious goals. Through personal stories from her Olympic training, ultramarathon experiences, and creative endeavors, she illustrates how embracing discomfort can lead to resilience, growth, and success.

Notable Quotes

- The rule of thirds is that when you're chasing a dream or doing anything hard, you're supposed to feel good a third of the time, OK a third of the time, and crappy a third of the time. – Alexi Pappas, on the mindset that changed her approach to challenges.

- Instead of asking yourself to be the best, ask yourself to try your best and don't give up. It's a bad day. It's not a bad life. – Alexi Pappas, on self-compassion during tough moments.

🏃‍♀️ The Rule of Thirds: A Framework for Resilience

- Alexi's coach introduced her to the rule of thirds, which posits that during any challenging pursuit, you should expect to feel good, okay, and bad in equal measure.

- Feeling bad isn't a sign of failure but an indicator that you're pushing your limits. Conversely, feeling good all the time might mean you're not challenging yourself enough.

- This mindset helped Alexi reframe her struggles during Olympic training, allowing her to focus on effort rather than perfection.

⏱️ Letting Go of Control: The Power of Presence

- During a pivotal workout before the Rio Olympics, Alexi's coach told her to take your watch off, shifting her focus from pace to effort.

- This lesson carried over to her ultramarathon experience, where she learned to embrace the unpredictable and stay present, even during grueling moments like walking the final 40 miles.

- By relinquishing control, Alexi found freedom in simply continuing to move forward, regardless of pace or external metrics.

🌄 Lessons from the Leadville 100 Ultramarathon

- Competing in the Leadville 100, a 100-mile race with extreme elevation, Alexi experienced a full spectrum of emotions, from empowerment to exhaustion.

- The race reinforced the importance of self-coaching and trusting the process, even when external support isn't available.

- Walking through the night taught her to accept discomfort as part of the journey rather than a reason to quit.

📚 Applying the Rule Beyond Athletics

- Alexi credits the rule of thirds for her success in writing her memoir Bravey and directing three films.

- She uses the framework to navigate her daily emotions, recognizing that bad days are a natural part of any creative or personal endeavor.

- The rule serves as a reminder to stay on her own team, offering herself grace and understanding during challenging times.

💡 Redefining Success and Effort

- Alexi emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from being the best to trying your best.

- Success isn't about avoiding bad days but about persevering through them with effort and self-compassion.

- Her journey underscores the value of embracing imperfection and finding meaning in the process, not just the outcome.